Slug-holding form for printing machines



April 19, 1932. E. L. MUELLER 1,854,215

SLUG HOLDING FORM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed July 50, 1930 Patented Apr. 19, 1932 warren stares main L. MUELLER, or nu'rnnnronn, NEW, JERSEY sLUe-HoLnINe FORM non PRINTING AcHrnE-s" Application filed July 30,

means for removably retaining the type or slugs in these localities.

In printing shops it is frequently necessary to print a number of different orders of the same general set-up but differing in some particular or particulars, such as the change of a word or address. The present invention suggests a form of block in which the general set-up is predetermined and in which practical and eflicient means is provided for the easy and quick insertion and removal of type or slugs therein.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and in which I have shown merely a preferred form of embodiment of the invention Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a form or block constructed in accordance with this invention, and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially upon the plane of line II-II of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings for describing in detail the exemplary structure therein illustrated, the reference character L indicates a form or block employed. This is preferably of the ordinary rectangular shape suitable for mounting within a chase. It is 1930. Serial No. 471,730.

preferably formed of metal and is of a thick ness corresponding with that ordinarily em ployed for carrying electros,as willbe readily'understood.

In the instance illustrated the block L is designed for carrying three lines of type or slugs, such as may be used in the printing of addresses upon envelopes and the like. The block is therefore shown with three separate slots as 1, 2 and 3 therein in parallel relation to each other each adapted to contain one line of type or slugs as indicated by the reference character G. j

The slots may be of any desired length and may be in any relation to each other according to the dictates of the user. They are of a width to snugly receive the stem portions of the type or slugs.

In order to hold the type or slugs from displacement the present invention proposes that each slot be furnished with one or more spring pressed members, such as balls H, projecting slightly into the slot so as to be impinged and pressed backwardly by the type or slugs and to thereafter exert a. suitable spring frictional pressure against the side of the type or slug so long as the type or slug is allowed to remain in the slot. The

balls H are each mounted in a separate socket as 14E. Each'has a spring as 5 behind it, Q

and these springs are held by screw plugs 6 which may be. screwed along the length of the sockets to thereby individually adjust the tension of the springs against the balls.

- The balls normally rest against small shoulders as 7 at the ends of the sockets so that only a slight portion of their area projects into the slots 1, 2 and 3.- When the slug is pressed downwardly into the slot it cams the ball backwardly away from the =5.

shoulder 7 and thereby brings the pressure of spring 5 to bear against the side of the slug as the slug is moveddownwardly to its final position within the slot.

' The slug may be of a type comprising a head as 8 or not. Where the head is present it provides a shoulder as 9 for resting upon the upper surface of the block adjacent the slot, as indicated in Fig. 2, but if no head be present then the lower end of the slug will rest against the supporting plate of a printing machine within which the block L is placed, as is common to ordinary slugs and t e.

n instances where one of the slots, as 2, is positioned between two other slots as 1 and 3 illustrated, the sockets 4 for the balls of slot 2 may be arranged out of line with the sockets containing the balls operating in one of the other slots, as 3, and enlarged passageways as 1010 may be formed between the sockets of the balls of slot 3, through the wall of the material containing said sockets so that the sockets of the balls of slot 2 may be readily accessible through said passage-ways and across the slot 3 for adjustment of the screw plugs of the balls of slot 2 as may be necessary from time to time.

The device as thus constructed is very simple and practical. It contains no mechanism requiring special manual manipulation to eflfect retention or release of the type or slugs. The slugs are merely pressed into the slots and the spring pressed balls will hold them against displacement until manual force is employed to purposely remove them. The balls are readily rotatable during the insertion and removal of the slugs so that no injury is done the slugs at any time. And the spring pressure of all of the balls is readily adjustable individually so that each ball may be made to have just the exact amount of frictional grip desired by an operator.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A holder of the class described comprising a rectangular block of a size and shape adapting it tobe held within a printing chase, said block having a plurality of slots formed therein each adapted for receiving type, said block having a plurality of series of elongated sockets formed within the material thereof between its upper and lower surfaces one series for each slot, spring pressed balls in'said sockets projecting into said slots, the sockets for one of said slots opening directly through a margin of said block to give access into said sockets for adjustment of said balls, and the sockets of another of said slots opening into the first slot and being accessible from the margin of the block throughv passage-way formed in the material of the block between the sockets of the first slot.

2. A holder of the class described comprising a block of a size and shape adapting it to be held within a printing chase, said block having a plurality of slots therein each adapted for receiving type, said block having a plurality of series of sockets formed therein and co-operating with the slots, spring pressed members in said sockets projecting into said slots, the sockets for one of said slots opening directly through a margin of said block to give access into said sockets for adjustment of said members, and the sockets for another of said slots opening into the first slot and being accessible from the margin of the block through passage-ways formed in the material of the block between the sockets of the first slot.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EMIL L. MUELLER. 

